Kiwi Bred Almanzor Fillies Quinella Listed St Leger

Media Release - Thursday April 25

Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor played a starring role at Flemington on Anzac Day, siring the quinella in the A$200,000 Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) with his three-year-old daughters Ahuriri and Alma Rise.

Almanzor filly Ahuriri dashes to a comfortable victory in the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) Photo: Reg Ryan (Racing Photos)

Ahuriri became only the ninth filly to win the VRC St Leger since 1930, and the first since fellow Kiwi-bred filly Exceptionally back in 2010.

Both Ahuriri and Alma Rise were rated among the favourites for Thursday’s staying test, with Alma Rise just shading her rival for favouritism at $3.30 after showing real promise with a win and a second in her only two previous appearances.

Alma Rose enjoyed a comfortable run in second on the outside of the front-running Ganbare, who was allowed to set a sedate speed out in front. Ahuriri settled in fifth and one off the fence, well within striking distance all the way around the Flemington circuit.

Alma Rose cruised up alongside the leader at the top of the straight and clearly had him covered, but then Damian Lane angled Ahuriri out to the centre of the track and sent her into full flight. She bounded to the lead and went clear, opening up an impressive winning margin of two and a quarter lengths over Alma Rise.

It was the second win of an eight-start career for the Chris Waller-trained Ahuriri, who has also collected three minor placings and has banked A$173,125 in stakes. She was stepping down in class on Thursday, having finished eighth in the Gr.3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) in her previous start.

“It all clicked into place for her,” Lane said. “It was obviously great placement by Chris Waller and his team. You can always be confident, when you throw your leg over these horses, that they’re fit and well. She was that and she handled herself really well.

Advertisement

“I was mindful that the two to beat would probably sit first and second in the run. I thought the leader may go a more genuine tempo, but I didn’t want to be giving too big a head start. I was able to get into a great position, only two or three lengths off the speed. That really helped me get into the race from the corner, and her turn of foot was just way too good.

“She’s got real stamina. She’s not very big, but she’s got a lot of heart and that’ll take her a long way.”

Ahuriri was bred by Helen-Gaye and Graham Bax and is out of the Darci Brahma mare Mackenzie Kate, who is a half-sister to the Bax-bred triple Group One winner Lucia Valentina.

Ahuriri was a $210,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase.

Ahuriri was a $210,000 purchase at Karaka 2022 by Chris Waller Racing in partnership with Helen-Gaye and Graham Bax’s daughter Kylie.

Thursday’s result continued a strong season for Almanzor, who has now been represented by 14 black-type performers across New Zealand and Australia since August 1. That list is headed by the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) quinella of Circle Of Fire and Athabascan, along with fellow Group winners Zabmanzor, Positivity, Moonlight Magic and Sudbina. Almanzor is also the sire of this season’s unbeaten and stakes-winning two-year-old Nucleozor.

Positivity and Qali Al Farrasha finished second and third in last month’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and are entered for this Saturday’s Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville. – NZ Racing Desk.

Advertisment

Race Result - VRC St Leger LR 2800m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 3:03.03
1
Ahuriri
- 3f Almanzor (FR) x Mackenzie Kate (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Damian Lane 56
2
2.3
Alma Rise
- 3f Almanzor (FR) x Fashion Black (NZ) (Bertolini (USA))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
3
3.5
Sambucus
- 3g Fiorente (IRE) x Henriette (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: R E Laing Rdr: D Moor 58
Fiorente
4
4.5
Cherokee Brave
- 3g Saxon Warrior (JPN) x La La Luchie (AUS) (Medaglia D'oro (USA))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: B Shinn 58
5
5
Maputo
- 3g Crowded House (GB) x Buyback (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: Pat Carey & Harris Walker Rdr: R Mc Leod 58
6
5.2
Impunity
- 3g Dundeel (NZ) x In The Clear (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: M Zahra 58
7
7.7
Ganbare
- 3c Maurice (JPN) x Mardi (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Jordan Childs 58
8
10.7
The Cast Off
- 3f Pariah (AUS) x Savaland (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Toby Lake Rdr: Laura Lafferty 56
9
10.9
Plastic Dreams
- 3g Mendelssohn (USA) x Zhen Zhen (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Dominic Sutton Rdr: E J Walsh 58
10
11.6
Dunbelievin'
- 3g Dundeel (NZ) x Believe (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: J Mott 58
11
16.6
Mornington Pier
- 3g Pierro (AUS) x Lorna May (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: M J Dee 58
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Tuesday May 6
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$650,000 Stay Inside Filly Sets Inglis Weanling Sale Alight
The first session of the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale on Monday produced a new overall record price for this sale when a filly by Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside sold for $650,000.
100th National Yearling Sale to Debut New Format
Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th anniversary of the National Yearling Sales in New Zealand, a significant milestone to celebrate.
One to Watch – Kembla
Group I ATC Champagne Stakes winner Nepotism is not the only talented two year-old winner by Brutal this season that was bred and sold by Gilgai Farm.
$650,000 Stay Inside Filly Sets New Record at Inglis Weanling Sale
A new record price for the Australian Weanling Sale was set at Riverside today when a Stay Inside x Sheidel filly offered by Noorilim Park sold for $650,000.
Cambridge Stud Welcome Hello Youmzain First NZ bred SW
Lucy In The Sky delivered a memorable result on multiple fronts with her historic success at Riccarton.
Widden Stud Sell $775,000 Too Darn Hot Colt
Widely tipped as a likely sale-topper at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, the Widden Stud consigned Too Darn Hot (GB) colt from Enbihaar did not disappoint when fetching $775,000.
Sires With Winners - Monday May 5
Here is the full list of 20 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Westbury Stud Announce 2025 Fees
Westbury Stud is pleased to announce the 2025 service fees for its high performing stallion roster, providing breeders with an accessible source of proven bloodlines at excellent value.
One to Watch – Curragh
He’s a Coolmore homebred blueblood, but sired by Darley’s champion stallion Dubawi and Officer opened his stakes account overnight at The Curragh winning the Listed Tetrarch Stakes (1m).